The state�s Commission on Judicial Conduct on Wednesday charged Judge Michael A. Hecht with violating the state�s judicial conduct code by allegedly exchanging cash and legal advice for sex, threatening two men, using racially insensitive language and engaging in unfair campaign conduct.

The Pierce County Superior Court judge has 21 days to answer the charges. Once he does, the commission will hold a hearing open to the public on the matter to determine whether the allegations are true.

Hecht could avoid such a hearing by striking a deal with the commission, which is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct against judges and issuing sanctions.

Punishment can include a recommendation to the Washington Supreme Court that a judge be suspended or removed from office.

Hecht�s attorney, Wayne Fricke, said his client denies wrongdoing and intends to fight the commission�s charges.

�He is hoping and anticipating that he�ll be exonerated at the end of all this,� Fricke said.

He added that the commission �doesn�t have all the information� but declined to elaborate.

Hecht, also the subject of a criminal investigation, took a voluntary paid leave from his job last month. The state Attorney General�s Office has charged him in Superior Court with one count of felony harassment and one count of patronizing a prostitute.

He�s pleaded not guilty and is free on his own recognizance. His trial tentatively is scheduled for June 8.

The commission began disciplinary proceeds against Hecht on Feb. 27, the same day assistant attorney general John Hillman filed criminal charges against the judge.

Hecht submitted a response to the commission�s �statement of allegations� on March 17. The commission then met in secret Friday to consider the allegations and Hecht�s response and decided there was probable cause to charge him, according to commission documents.

By state law, the commission�s investigation is kept secret until a statement of charges is issued.

The commission contends Hecht:

� Paid cash to three men in exchange for sex numerous times between 1997 and 2008. The men are listed as Joseph H., Joseph P. and John M. in the charging document. Some of the alleged sex acts are alleged to have occurred when Joseph H. was a minor. All of the alleged encounters allegedly originated in downtown Tacoma and ended at Hecht�s law office.

� Exchanged legal services for sex with another man � Bryan C. � once in 1996. That alleged encounter reportedly took place at Hecht�s law office.

�Directed �threatening behavior� toward two men � Joseph H. and Albert Milliken � last summer after he �came to believe the two men were talking to others about respondent�s conduct with young male prostitutes.�

� Repeatedly used a racial slur during a personal conversation with Milo Lick, John Paterno and Guy Shepard in 2007.

� Stole some of his opponent�s campaign signs during last year�s election. Hecht defeated incumbent Judge Sergio Armijo during the August election.

The commission said in a news release that if the charges are true Hecht violated three parts of the Judicial Code of Conduct by �engaging in illegal or otherwise indecorous and inappropriate behavior.�

The commission has �jurisdiction over judges regarding allegations of misconduct occurring prior to or during service as a judge,� the news release states.

Hecht, 58, was sworn into office Jan. 12, the day after The News Tribune reported that Tacoma police were investigating allegations that he�d bought sex from Joseph Hesketh IV several years ago and threatened to kill him in downtown last August.

Police and the newspaper later talked to another young man, Joseph Pfeiffer, who claimed he got cash from Hecht in exchange for sex acts between summer 2008 and January 2009.

Hecht is charged in criminal court with one count of felony harassment for allegedly threatening to kill Hesketh and a misdemeanor count of patronizing a prostitute for allegedly buying sex from Pfeiffer.

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644 blogs.thenewstribune.com/crime